adminStadium this morning.
Following a spirited performance in both their games, winning 35-17 against Griquas in the opener and a 43-5 thrashing of host franchise Limpopo Blue Bulls on Wednesday, Zimbabwe are on top of the log standings and have a chance of finishing as the number one side.
If Zimbabwe finish as the top side, this will be the first time they would have managed such a feat, bettering the record set by the Class of 2007 that won all their games and finished as the third best side under the same coach.
Not only is Zimbabwe leading on the team standings but they also have dynamic utility back Brendon Mandivenga leading the individual top points scorers charts having scored a total of 36 points in both games.
Coach Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa has made minimal changes to the side that slaughtered the Limpopo Blue Bulls on Wednesday, opting for more power and size upfront where Thabani Mujeni has been moved back to lose head prop from hooker.
Alexander Zwart returns to number two and, with the support of Tapiwa Muringani, completes the front row.
The locking pair of Tafadzwa Kufazvinei and Philangwezi Mudambanuki come in for Tinashe Gonese and Glynne Rorke who have been relegated to the bench together with front rowers Stephen Bhasera and Tanaka Chikwezvero.
Murambiwa has maintained faith in the loose trio of Nicholas Burnett, captain Daniel Moolman and eighth man Ivan Bawden and the story in the same for the Zimbabwe backline where everyone else has been retained in the same positions. Marshalled by Mandivenga at second centre, the Zimbabwe backline has Rukudzo Gona on flyhalf, Andrew Dollar linking the two departments and the wing pairing of Tawanda Ngosi and Brandon Boshi are expected to get a clean ball. Zimbabwe has lost to Namibia over the last two years, first an 18-55 thumping in Kimberly two years ago before a 7-28 defeat in Port Elizabeth last year.
But with the quality of players and the skill and flair in this year’s side, Zimbabwe are expected to run over Namibia.
Mandivenga was part of the side that lost to Namibia last year but with the maturity he has gained over the year, he believes there is nothing that can stop Zimbabwe.
“Last year was a different thing altogether because that was my first time playing at the festival and I was intimidated by the huge size of opposition we faced but I guess exposure and experience has also changed my approach,” said Mandivenga, the golden boy of the side.
“We have some players who are here for the first time as well this year and I have tried to motivate them to focus on the game and not the size of the man because it really doesn’t matter, we need to win at the end of the day.
“It’s also good that we also have size this year and it weighs in our advantage especially when we go into tackles and when we get physical
“Felt great winning that man-of-the-match award. I was part of the Craven Week side last year and this is my first time getting such an award, I think it is because of the level of confidence that I have within myself.
“Surely, I did not think I was going to get that award because the only thing that was on my mind was to get into the game and do my job and I hope that we are going to beat the Lions this year.”
Namibia coach Henry Camp knows Zimbabwe are not going to give them an easy game as has been the case in the past years and having watched them play, he feels he has a huge on his hands.
“My boys have watched Zimbabwe play in the last two games here and believe me it has been difficult trying to motivate them and bring them back into the playing mode,” said Camp.
“Zimbabwe’s number 15 (Mandivenga) and 11 (Jabulani Mutukwa) really are the players to watch and in the forwards number five (Burnett) has caused a lot of problems and I must say the odd are in favour of Zimbabwe.
“But we will have to fight because we first lost to Border before winning against Griquas and to me that shows that we have improved since we came here and we want that to carry on tomorrow (today).”
Zimbabwe captain Moolman said defence was going to be their biggest strength and they were not going to overrate or under estimate any of the teams they are going to play during the festival.
“We came down here knowing that we had a huge job at hand, our main focus was to get our defence right in the first place and I am happy that we defended our line very well and we also won a lot of balls and got a couple of turnover balls.”
Zimbabwe Starting XV (15-1): Jabulani Mutukwa, Brandon Boshi, Brendon Mandivenga, Justin Zietsman, Tawanda Ngosi, Rukudzo Gona, Andrew Dollar, Ivan Bawden, Daniel Moolman, Nicholas Burnett, Philangwezi Mudambanuki, Tafadzwa Kufazvinei , Tapiwa Murangani, Alexander Zwart, Thabani Mujeni.
Online Reporter